Harrogate A 5, Otley Saracens 31: Saracens travelled to Claro Road to play this re-arranged Merit Table game which had been postponed four weeks ago due to frost. They took the field in summer-like conditions and made the perfect start pinning Harrogate in their 22.

Following forward pressure Peter Hall powered over, Dan Clappison adding the conversion.

Harrogate, stung by this reverse, hit back but they could not pierce a strong Saracens' defence. Otley eventually raised the siege and following good forward play the ball was moved wide and Adam Thornton beat the cover to score, Clappison adding the conversion.

In the closing minutes of the half Alistair Monks made a run out of defence to link with Adie Keeler, who made ground down the wing before finding Matthew Wright on his inside and he went over in the corner. The conversion was missed, leaving it 19-0 at the turn round.

Harrogate attacked strongly on the re-start and after considerable pressure their efforts were rewarded with a try in the corner.

Saracens had made a number of changes at half-time and Phil Howell, who had come on for Clappison, made a superb break and the ball went through several pairs of hands before Mike Allewell, who had replaced Ben Steele, was up in support to go over. The conversion was missed.

Both sides were continuing to try and spread the ball in the near perfect conditions to entertain a large crowd who were basking in the sun.

With time running out it was Saracens who had the last word, taking play to the home 22 where Mark Nixon took the ball on the burst and showing tremendous pace for a second row raced over under the posts. Phil Howell added the conversion to set the seal on Saracens' 11th win in a row.

Pontefract A 33, Otley Tongans 7

TONGANS had to go into the fixture pool again and picked up a tough game against Pontefract, who are in Yorkshire One. What a change in seven days, the rain and mud being replaced by near-perfect conditions.

The Tongans' cause was not helped by the absence of several key players, most notably at scrum-half.

Pontefract had first use of a strong breeze and soon had Tongans under pressure taking the lead with a penalty. Tongans were defending strongly against strong running but could do little when Pontefract engineered an overlap.

Lacking any quality possession they were restricted to mainly defence in which Richard Simpson and Will Foster were outstanding, but the home side stretched the lead with two penalties. Right on half-time Pontefract at last broke through to make it 21-0.

With the wind at their backs Otley came more into the game and an excellent move should have produced a try but the home winger intercepted to score under the posts.

Tongans came back from this shock and Tim Westlake-Bryant drifted into the centre to burst through and score at the posts, Will Foster adding the conversion. Tongans were playing well now but Pontefract introduced fresh legs with the use of several replacements. In the dying minutes Will Foster made a clean break to feed Ben Birkhill, who looked to be going over but he was stopped on the line.

Pontefract took the ball and raced to the other end for a try, leaving Tongans realising it was not their day.

Otley Viscounts 33, Aireborough Dragons 0

AFTER several wet weeks the Viscounts revelled in the blue skies and firm pitch to gain the double over neighbours Aireborough with a comfortable win.

A much changed Dragons outfit lost for the second time this season against stronger opposition. Led by skipper Andrew Wood, returning from long term injury, Dragons played with determination throughout in what became a disjointed game.

The Otley pack played well to produce some good possession which the backs used well, scoring four of the five tries through Charlie Davy (2), Karl Smith and veteran Adrian Midgeley.

Mark Wilyman had another lively game in the loose for Otley and was rewarded with a try. Skipper Jamie Chappell converted four in the improved conditions.

Aireborough played with a lot of spirit and never gave up. With Michael Harwood and Kevin Wood making their debuts at prop Dragons' scrum was solid but attacking options were limited with only the elusive running of centre Jon Rhodes and winger Nick Barber's injection of pace putting the opposition under pressure.

Spending long periods in defence full-back Michael Tully had a hectic time but Dragons' Man-of-the-Match was flanker Stuart Howarth whose non-stop covering and tackling had a massive influence on the game.

Otley U-13s 17, Huddersfield 0

Otley Under-13s avenged the defeat of two weeks ago with a powerful all round performance. Huddersfield had a strong running set of backs who should have scored but were let down by handling errors.

Their back row were too often caught off-side giving away a number of needless penalties. Otley took advantage and dominated the forward exchanges, creating good possession for the backs. Some good inter-passing between backs and forwards put winger Luke Walton in for a try, converted by Edward Goodwill. Walton scored again to give a 12-0 lead at half-time.

Huddersfield came back in the second-half but Otley held firm with some superb tackling from William Fraser, Simon Jones and Man-of-the- Match Joe Robinson, whose support play was outstanding. Otley sealed the win after a surge from Sam Pickering was stopped on the line and Declan Pack dived over.